Method and apparatus for blocking off pipe lines



March 17, 1942. c. E. wlLsoN 2,276,443

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING OFF PIPE LINES Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 1942. c, E, wlLsoN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING OFF PIPE LINES Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 772 01026372' C72 a'l E. Wilson .Y nr .....li l

l Patented Mar. 17, 1942 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKIN (DFF PIPELINES charles E. wilson, Manhattan, nl., assignor to Stanolind Pipe Line Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Maine Application March 22, 1939, Serial No. 263,332

7 claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for blocking off pipe lines and more particularly to the temporary plugging of a pipe line so that the fluid can be -drainedfrom the section thereof which it is desired to repair or replace.

In the past a number of methods have been employed for displacing liquids, such as crude oil or gasoline, from defective pipe line sections. Of course, where parallel lines are available the problem is a simple one, the iiuid from the defective line being merely transferred into a parallel one. In repairing a single crude oil or gasolin'e pipe line, however, it has heretofore been necessary to displace the fluid in the entire line between adjacent pumping stations with water or, in some cases, displace the uid with air by means of a special type of pipe line scraper, even in contact with'the obstruction. This operation is most useful in plugging a line at any desired point so that a portion' of it downstream from the plug can be drained and repaired or replaced.

The method of carrying out such an operation \is illustrated by Figure 1 whichI shows a pipe line I0 through which crude oil, for example, is pumped from pumping station II to receiving station I2. The depressed portion I3 represents when the repairs or replacements themselvesV would require that the iiuid be removed from only a relatively short section of the line.

It is an object of my invention to provide a system for blocking off pipe lines whereby short sections thereof can be quickly and efciently drained. Another object is to provide a novel methodand apparatus for blocking 01T sections of pipe line and draining the same without loss of oil and without the necessity of draining and relling the entire line between pumping stations. A further object is to provide an expansible pipe line plug which is particularly adapted for carrying out my method of blocking off pipe lines. Further and more detailed objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description thereof read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective an arrangement of apparatus for blocking oi and draining a section of pipe line according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing in somewhat more detail my method and apparatus for plugging a pipe line at a desired location;

Figure 3 shows in cross section a form of expansible plug according to my invention; and

Figure 4 is a cross section of an alternative form of expansible plug.

In one of its broadest aspects my invention comprises temporarily inserting an obstruction into a pipe line at a desired point which will allow the iiow of fluid to continue but will prevent any relatively large objects from passing it and dispatching a plug through the line, preferably by means of the uid, which will expand and block oi further flow of fluid upon coming lill a creek crossing which' it is desired to drain for repair or replacement. First, pipe line I0 is tapped and an obstruction I4 placed therein at a suitable point higher than section `I3 and upstream from it. A by-pass line I5 is then installed with one connection nearthe lowest point of section I3 and the other at a point I6 upstream from obstruction I4. By-pass line I5 is equipped with gate valves Il and I8 near section I3 and point I6, respectively, and a third gate valve I9. A portable pumping unit 20 is arranged to take suction through valve 2| from by-pas's line I5 between valves I1 and I9 and to discharge into bypass line I5 through valve 22 at a point between valve I8 and valve I9. obstruction I4 into line I0 and of connecting bypass line I5 to pipe line I0 will be further described in connection with Figure 2.

A suitable plug 23 which is adapted to travel through the pipe line Ill is inserted `therein at pumping station II and pumped with the oil, valves I1, IB and I9 being open and valves 2| and 22 being closed during this procedure. When plug 23 strikes obstruction I4 it expands in such a way as to prevent further ow of oil through pipe line I0, but oil continues to ow'through bypass line I5. Pumping station II is then shut down, valve I9 is closed and pumping unit 20 is started pumping to take oil from section I3 thi ough valves Il and 2| and discharge it through valves 22 and I8 into pipe line I0, through which it will flow into storage facilities at pumping station II.

When the oil has been completely drained from section I3 and the necessary repairs or replacements have been made, valve I9 is opened to allow oil to flow into the drained area and equalize the pressures on each side of plug 23. Thereafter the obstruction I4 is removed, station II is put into operation and the plug 23 allowed to travel with the oil stream into receiving station I2 where it is removed from the pipe line.

.Figure 2 shows a particularly suitable form of temporary obstruction to be used in connection with my method of blocking pipe lines. A nipple or short section of metal bar 30 is welded to pipe The method of insertingv line I and a special nipple 3l is likewise welded line plug.

thereto at a diametrically opposite point, nipple or bar section being externally threaded to receive cap 32. Gatevalve 33 is then threaded on nipple 3|, and a hole is drilled by any suitable means through nipple 3l and both l,walls of pipe line I0, and into nipple or bar section 30. One method of drilling this hole is by the u se of the pipe tapping apparatus disclosed in United States Letters Patent 2,097,398, issued October 26, 1937, to J. E. Polston and A. M. Hill. According to this method a tubular member 34 which has -a stuffing box 35 on its other end is attached to gate valve 33. A long drill spindle 35 passes through stumng box 35 and terminates in a drill socket 3l of an external diameter such that it can be retracted into tubular member 33.

It is deemed unnecessary to describe the drilling method in detail since it is fully set forth in theabove patent, but it is apparent that it can be carried out when fluid is passing through pipe line lo under full pressure. When the drilling is complete, the drill and drill spindle il@ are retracted into member 3ft, gate valve 33 is closed, member 33 is removed from valve 33 and 38 entering nipple or bar section 33. In this way rod 38 is firmly held in position and any possibility that it might be deformed so as to make withdrawal impossible is eliminated.

If desired, the drill bit itself can be allowedl to remain in position across the pipe line lo for use as a temporary obstruction, but this is generally not preferred. Also nipple 30 can be installed, drilled, and provided with a plug as described in United States Patent 2,097,398, but the above method is preferred. Plug 23 which is shown adjacent rod 38 is of a type which will expand and prevent further flow of fluid when subjected to upstream pressure and one example is shown in `further detail in sion 4I so that it will be carried along with the fluid stream, but that any upstream pressure will tend to cause plug 23 to expand and seal any The forward (downrial threaded alternatively on a shaft 53 which has theball 54 of ball and socket joint 50 on its frontend. This assembly is kept in position by nut 55. l

The frontl section consists of four scraper discs 56 and four steel washers 51 similarly threaded on a shaft 58 which is threaded into the socket portion 59 of ball and socket joint 5U and has an expansible hollow ring 60 of rubber or other resilient material and a sliding sleeve 6I mounted on its front end. A steel Washer 62 is welded to shaft 58 at a point adjacent the most forward cupped disc 56 t0 support expansible ring 60. Steel washer 63 is bolted to the forward end of shaft 58 by means of nut 64 to hold sleeve 6l on shaft 58 and permit easy assembly of parts 58, 3d and 6i. Sleeve 6i also carries a washer 65 at its front end to make contact with rod 38 (Figure 2) and a washer Bt welded to'its rear end to support ex-y expansible ring 3G. l In operation the plug is propelled through the pipe line with the fluid stream by the fluid pressure acting on discs 52 and 56. When the plug reaches an obstruction such as rod 3&3 inserted in the pipe line the sliding sleeve Si will be forced back along shaft. 5B and washer 66 will compress expanding ring 60 against washer 82 thus causing ring toexpand-against the inside pipe wall and seal the pipe line. The fluid pressure behind the plug caused either by the velocity of the oil if pumping station l l is operating or by the head of the oil in the rear after the station is shut down acting against cupped discs 52 and 56 will continue to force the plugr against rod 38 and holl the 'ring 60 under compression but when the pressures in front and behind the plug are equalized the resiliency of ring Gil and discs 52 4and 56 will cause them to return to their normal shapes and the plug will be free to travel through the pipe line with the fluid stream.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a novel and extremely useful method of blocking oil pipe lines and that the method and the apparatus I have disclosed for carrying out the same can be utilized in many ways other than those specifically set forth herein. I do not, therefore', desire to be limited to the specific embodiments which I have usedto -23 contains a substantially conical axial depresrality of peripheral slots 42 are cut into plug 23 thereby forming a number of circumferential.

projections 43 which are inclined in the upstream direction and these tend to expand and assist in giving an effective seal between plug 23 and the walls of the pipe line.

`Figure 4 illustrates an alternative type of pipe This plug consists of two sections connected by a Vflexible ball and socket joint 50, the rear section being made up of three steel washers 5| and two cupped pipe line scraper discs 52 made of rubber or other resilient matedescribe my invention, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of blocking off a section of pipe line which comprises temporarily obstructing said 'line at a selected point with respect to relativewith respect to relatively large objects while allowing the flow of fluid therethrough to continue, constructing a' by-pass line around saidl point, dispatching a plug through said line to said point, said plug being adapted to travel with said fluid and to expand and block further `ilow of fluid when its further travel is obstructed, pumping fluid through said by-pass line from the downstream to the upstream Aside of said plug, and then shutting off further flow through said by-pass line.

3. T'he method of blocking oil and draining a section of pipe line having a relatively low elevation which comprises temporarily obstructing said line with respect to relatively large objects, while allowing the ow of uid therethrough to continue, at a relatively high point upstream from said section, constructing a by-pass line between said section to be drained and a point upstream from said relatively high point, dispoint, and then shutting off further ow throughl said by-pass line.

said pipe line with said fluid and to expand and block further ilow .of fluid upon coming in cont tact with said obstruction.

6. Apparatus for blocking off and draining a section of pipe line comprising means inserted at `a desired point within said pipe line forming an obstruction adapted to stop relatively large objects while allowing the continued flow of uid, a by-pass line around said obstruction, a pump adapted to pump fluid through said by-pass line from the downstream to the upstream side of 4. Apparatus for 'blocking-oil a section of pipe line comprising means inserted at a desired point within said pipe line forming an obstruction adapted to stop relatively large objects while allowing the continued flow of fluid, and a plug adapted to travel through said pipe line with said fluid and to expand and block further ow of uid upon coming in contact with said obstruction.

5. Apparatus for blocking off and draining a section of pipe line comprising means inserted at a desired point within said pipe line forming an obstruction adapted to stop relatively large objects while allowing the continued ilow of fluid, a. by-pass line around said obstruction, means for controlling the ow of fluid through said bypass line, and a plug adapted to travel through said obstruction, means for shutting oiI ilow through' said by-pass line and a plug adapted to travel through said pipe line with said iluid and to expand and block further flow of fluid upon coming in contact with said obstruction.

7. Apparatus for blocking oiI a section of pipe line comprising means inserted at a desired point within saldiA `pipe line forming an obstruction adapted to stop relatively large objects while allowing the continued iiow of fluid, and a plug comprising an elongated member having a for-n ward contact portion and a plurality of resilient circumferential projections therefrom whaving a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said pipe line, said plug including means actuated by the pressure of said iiuid on said plug when said forward portion is in contact with said obstruction for causing the diameter of at least some'of said projections to increase. whereby further ow of uid through said pipe line is eiectively blocked.

CHARLES E. WILSON. 

